Managing online content for your business is one of the most important processes in marketing, and there are more options out there than ever. If you’re considering a custom CMS, it’s important to keep in mind how your relationship with a developer will pan out in the long term. Here’s why it could leave you stranded.
The Middleman
When speaking to a developer about your potential CMS, you will most likely be told that open-source CMS solutions aren’t sophisticated or capable enough, take too much time to learn, and are inadequate for your needs. Not only are these not true, it is also a misdirection from the realities of working with a custom CMS. What they won’t tell you is that, unlike using an open-source system, the developer will serve as a wall between your company and its content management. The CMS will only be truly understood by the developer, and this leads to a middleman dynamic that can be harmful to maintaining control over your content.
Locked In
Another important principle to bear in mind is that by keeping the nuts and bolts of their system proprietary, a custom CMS developer is keeping you locked into their services. It’s in their best interests to make sure that your company becomes too dependant on their CMS to opt for a move to another system. This dependency offers a significant hurdle: if you no longer want to work with that developer, the next person or firm helping to manage your content will likely be unable to understand the proprietary system well enough to migrate without a complete rebuild.
Don’t Forget the Cost!
There is one central drawback to leaving your custom CMS that functions to keep you locked in: the cost. This is true in terms of both time and money. Being cornered into a total rebuild of your company’s website and its content can be a very painstaking and expensive process. Most, if not all, custom CMS developers will do anything they can to convince you otherwise, but the truth is that it’s ultimately not worth it. This is especially true when compared to the freedom and versatility of an open-source solution!
When it comes to your content, the eKzact team doesn’t want you to have your hands tied. If your business needs content management with true flexibility and creative control, give us a call at (403) 770-3023 today!
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